Trenwheal is a hamlet in the parish of Breage, southeast of Leedstown. This profile of Trenwheal Wesleyan Chapel has been compiled by Jo Lewis and Tony Mansell.
From the B3302 turn north at crossroads signposted Trenwheal, Drym, Horsedowns. Taking a left after Pengelly into Trenwheal, the chapel is on the right.
A Wesleyan Methodist chapel is recorded at this location on the 1st and 2nd Edition 1:2500 1880 and 1907 OS Maps. A building is recorded on the modern OS Mastermap 2007 as ‘Chapel Cottage’.
22 Jul 1890: Lease, Wesleyan chapel, Trenwheal, Breage. Parties: 1) Sir Theodore Henry Brinckman of Berkeley Square, Middlesex, and The Right Honourable Walter John, Earl of Chichester, trustees of the will of Francis Godolphin D’arcy, late Duke of Leeds. 2) George Godolphin, Duke of Leeds. 3) The Reverend William Jones of East End, Hayle, superintendent minister of the Hayle circuit of the Wesleyan Methodist Connexion. 4) James Edwards, smith, William Williams, miner James Hart, miner, Matthew Bray, farm labourer, Henry Williams, farmer, William Walters, engineer, William Morcam, grocer, and Joseph Arthur, mine agent, all of Trenwheale [Trenwheal], Breage; William Rosewarne, mine agent, and William Jenkin, carpenter, both of Leedstown, Crowan; James Trewheela [Trewhella] of Carzise, Crowan, farmer, and Richard Walters of Penzance, carpenter. 4) wish to acquire a piece of ground for building a chapel. Consideration: the grantees have erected a chapel on the plot. Term: 60 years. Rent: 7 shillings. Part of the southern end of a close of land in Trenwhele [Trenwheal] late in the occupation of Ursula Freeman, and now hedged off and allotted to the lessees, with a chapel or place of religious worship and all other buildings and offices now erected there. Number 157, Manor of Godolphin. (Kresen Kernow RH/1/1752)
1829 Chapel
The later chapel (below) was said to have, “Replaced an earlier building of 1829” and that is the only information about an earlier chapel found so far. (Checklist of Churches in the Hayle Circuit on the 31st August 1961)
1870s/80s Chapel
1871: “We understand a new Wesleyan chapel is shortly to be built at Trenwheal.” (Royal Cornwall Gazette – Saturday 28 January 1871)
Between 1871 and 1888: Build date.
Built as a Wesleyan chapel. (SWChurches)
Replaced an earlier building of 1829. (Checklist of Churches in the Hayle Circuit on the 31st August 1961)
1888: Indicated on maps.
22 Jul 1890: Lease, Wesleyan chapel, Trenwheal, Breage. Parties: 1) Sir Theodore Henry Brinckman of Berkeley Square, Middlesex, and The Right Honorable Walter John, Earl of Chichester, trustees of the will of Francis Godolphin D’arcy, late Duke of Leeds. 2) George Godolphin, Duke of Leeds. 3) The Reverend William Jones of East End, Hayle, superintendent minister of the Hayle circuit of the Wesleyan Methodist Connexion. 4) James Edwards, smith, William Williams, miner James Hart, miner, Matthew Bray, farm labourer, Henry Williams, farmer, William Walters, engineer, William Morcam, grocer, and Joseph Arthur, mine agent, all of Trenwheale [Trenwheal], Breage; William Rosewarne, mine agent, and William Jenkin, carpenter, both of Leedstown, Crowan; James Trewheela [Trewhella] of Carzise, Crowan, farmer, and Richard Walters of Penzance, carpenter. 4) wish to acquire a piece of ground for building a chapel. Consideration: the grantees have erected a chapel on the plot. Term: 60 years. Rent: 7 shillings. Part of the southern end of a close of land in Trenwhele [Trenwheal] late in the occupation of Ursula Freeman, and now hedged off and allotted to the lessees, with a chapel or place of religious worship and all other buildings and offices now erected there. Number 157, Manor of Godolphin. (Kresen Kernow RH/1/1752)
1907: Sunday school indicated on maps.
1910: Trenwheal Wesleyan Sunday School: “… On the following day, under sunny skies, the annual gala was held. Headed by Deveral Brass Band (conducted by Mr T Pascoe) the officials, teachers and scholars perambulated the vicinity, returning to a field in the heart of the beautiful valley where tea was provided.” (21 July 1910 – Cornubian and Redruth Times)
1932: The Wesleyan, Primitive Methodist and the United Methodist Church amalgamated to become the Methodist Church of Great Britain.
1932: Became Trenwheal Methodist Chapel. (SWChurches)
1940: Seating for 150. (David Easton, Methodist Minister and historian)
1964: Closed and converted to dwelling. Seemingly later than stated here. (David Easton, Methodist Minister and historian)
1968: Stated as closed (Checklist of Churches in the Hayle Circuit on the 31st August 1961)
1972: Stated as closed. (SWChurches)
Both the Chapel and the Sunday school has been converted to housing.